Colorado
5-2 , 2-2
Washington
6-2 , 4-1
Buffs Fall Short Against No. 15 Huskies
October 20, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
SEATTLE — The Colorado Buffaloes had their opportunities Saturday but couldn't convert when most necessary.
Washington had the same opportunities and did take advantage — and the result was a 27-13 UW win at Husky Stadium.
The loss, Colorado's second straight, dropped the Buffs to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in Pac-12 play. The 15th-ranked Huskies improved to 6-2, 4-1.
The Buffs had their chances in this one, jumping out to an early 7-0 lead and again taking a 10-7 edge in the second quarter. But after the Huskies took a 14-10 lead, the Buffs had to settle for a field goal late in the second quarter after an interception gave them the ball at the Washington 9-yard line. Instead of going into the half with the lead, CU still trailed at intermission, 14-13, and never scored again.
Colorado finished with just 263 yards offense (144 passing, 119 rushing). After going 80 yards for their first score, the Buffs offense couldn't mount a sustained drive to the end zone the rest of the day. The Huskies, meanwhile, were efficient on offense — 203 yards rushing, 150 passing — but most importantly had all three of their drives touchdown extended on fourth downs.
Colorado finished with just 263 yards offense (144 passing, 119 rushing).
HOW IT HAPPENED: Washington scored the clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter by converting a fourth-and-5. With UW holding a 17-13 lead, the Huskies went for it on fourth down — and Jake Browning threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Fuller to give Washington a 24-13 lead with just 3:50 remaining.
Colorado's Steven Montez was then intercepted on the next possession and Washington added a field goal for the final points of the game.
"I thought our kids played hard," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "We had our chances and Washington had their chances. But it all boils down to they converted their fourth downs and we didn't. That was the meat and potatoes of the game."
Early on, Colorado threw a scare into Washington.
After forcing the Huskies to punt on their opening possession, the Buffs wasted little time in getting to the end zone. Montez completed an 11-yard pass to Dimitri Stanley and Travon McMillian ran five times for 32 yards before Montez connected with true freshman Daniel Arias for a 37-yard touchdown pass. It was the first catch of his career for Arias, who ran a beautiful route down the right sideline before making the catch in the end zone to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Evan Price's first PAT of his career gave Colorado a 7-0 lead.
"I thought we ran the ball well on that first drive," said quarterback Steven Montez, who finished with a 17-for-28 day for 144 yards, a touchdown and an interception. "But they tightened it up in the middle a little and started bringing their safety down. Penalties also got us."
After the two teams traded punts, the Huskies marched 84 yards to tie the game. UW extended the drive in Colorado territory when a pass interference on fourth down gave Washington a first-and-goal at the Colorado 7-yard line. One play later, Salvon Ahmed scored from 7 yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
Colorado regained the lead on the ensuing possession. Montez had an 11-yard pass to Brady Russell — the freshman tight end's first catch of his career — and McMillian had a 23-yard run before the drive stalled. CU then settled for a 37-yard Price fieldl goal and 10-7 lead.
Washington, however, put together another long drive to take its first lead of the game, again extending the drive on a fourth down with a 2-yard run on fourth-and-1. Sean McGrew had a 16-yard run on the drive, helping set up a 15-yard Kamari Pleasant touchdown run to cap a 75-yard drive and give UW a 14-10 lead.
But following a Colorado punt, the Buffs collected the game's first turnover when safety Nick Fisher broke perfectly on a Jake Browning pass for an interception, returning it to the UW 9-yard line. Colorado couldn't advance the ball, but still got another Price field goal to head into the locker room at intermission trailing by one, 14-13.
Neither team managed much of an offensive threat for much of the third quarter before the Huskies finally drove deep inside CU territory after a Buffs run on fourth-and-1 was stopped for no gain near midfield. Â Colorado's defense, however, then held and Washington took a 31-yard field goal for a 17-13 lead.
Colorado's defense then came up with a big play early in the fourth period. After the Huskies had driven inside CU's 20, Browning hit Chico McClatcher with a short pass. McClatcher was stopped just short of the goal line by Nick Fisher and Nate Landman, and fumbled the ball out of the end zone.
That resulted in a touchback and gave CU the ball at the 20-yard line. Colorado couldn't, however, sustain a drive and punted the ball back to UW. The Buffs had a big Montez run called back by a holding penalty, one of several self-inflicted wounds.
That set the stage for Washington's  clinching touchdown drive.
"We were right in it there," Montez said after the touchback. ""We got the ball, we're driving, we're doing well — and then we get a holding penalty that puts us behind the sticks. We don't capitalize on that drive. We just shot ourselves in the foot again. You can't do that and expect to win on the road, especially against a team like Washington."
YOUNGSTERS STEP UP: Saturday was a big day for Colorado freshmen. Among those who came up with career firsts were wide receiver Daniel Arias, who had a 37-yard touchdown on his first reception as a Buff. He became the 16th player in CU history to score on his first touch as a Buff. Three others — Laviska Shenault Jr., Jay MacIntyre and Kabion Ento — are also on the current roster.
Also recording first catches were tight end Brady Russell, who had an 11-yard reception in the first half and wide receiver Dimitri Stanley, whose first catch also went for 11 yards.
Freshman Evan Price, meanwhile, was successful on his first field goal try, a 37-yarder in the second quarter, and he added a 26-yarder later in the half.
NOTEWORTHY: With four regulars out with injuries — wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., kicker James Stefanou, wide receiver Jay MacIntyre and cornerback Delrick Abrams Jr. — there were some new faces in the starting lineup.
Sophomore Trey Udoffia got his first start at corner and Evan Price took Stefanou's place on PATs and field goals. Dimitri Stanley started in MacIntyre's place. Also, guard Tim Lynott Jr. replaced Aaro Haiger at right guard to start the game.
TURNING POINT: Early in the fourth quarter, the Buffs had the ball and trailed by just four, 17-13. But after reaching midfield, a holding call nullified a Montez run into Washington territory and Colorado ended up having to punt. The Huskies then drove for the game-clinching field goal, scoring the touchdown on fourth-and-5.
WHAT IT MEANS: Now 5-2 after a 5-0 start, the Buffs need to reverse the momentum. Colorado still has plenty to play for — beginning with a chance to become bowl eligible next week.
NEXT UP: The Buffs return home to play host to Oregon State in a 1 p.m. game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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Team Stats
COLO 7, WASH 0
COLO - Arias, Daniel 37 yd pass from Montez, Steven (Price, Evan kick) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:54
COLO 7, WASH 7
WASH - Ahmed, Salvon 7 yd run (Henry, Peyton kick), 8 plays, 84 yards, TOP 3:29
COLO 10, WASH 7
COLO - Price, Evan 37 yd field goal 8 plays, 45 yards, TOP 3:32
COLO 10, WASH 14
WASH - Pleasant, K. 15 yd run (Henry, Peyton kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:24
COLO 13, WASH 14
COLO - Price, Evan 26 yd field goal 4 plays, 0 yards, TOP 1:35
COLO 13, WASH 17
WASH - Henry, Peyton 31 yd field goal 7 plays, 41 yards, TOP 3:59
COLO 13, WASH 24
WASH - Fuller, Aaron 26 yd pass from Browning, Jake (Henry, Peyton kick) 12 plays, 84 yards, TOP 5:49
COLO 13, WASH 27
WASH - Henry, Peyton 30 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 1:03
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
